Alarm sending device



Aug. 6, 1940.

T. A. TERJEsEN 2,210,512

ALARM SENDING DEVICE Filed Jan. 51, 1938 IH CASE oF F'HE LIHSET ,Illl "lum KfZ-52577 0f.'

Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Signal Engineering & Manufacturing Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 31, 19E-8, Serial f 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a sending device for use in connection with the actuating stations of electrical alarm systems, to cause the operation of signals in response to the actuation of any station.

The sending device of the present invention is particularly adapted for a re or burglar alarm system, in which the actuation of any station results in the continuous operation oi the Signals, without code significance. Alarm sending devices for such systems, as heretofore constructed, have usually provided a glass which, upon being broken, permits a spring-pressed plunger to close a circuit to cause continuous operation of the alarm signals of the system. While it is intended to permit the alarm. signals to operate until the glass at the actuated station has been replaced by a person in authority, breakage of the glass at the actuated station exposes the plunger, so that it is possible for an unauthorized person to silence the signals by pressing in the plunger to break the alarm control circuit.

According to the present invention, there is provided an improved alarm sending device for use with a non-code continuous alarm signal system, which device is characterized by the fact that it can be actuated by a simple pull applied to a movable element. Furthermore, when once the movable element has been actuated to send in an alarm, it is impossible to return the-element to its original position to stop the alarm, without nrst' opening the normally locked cover of the box containing the device. Therefore, the alarm will continue to sound until a person in authority has unlocked the box, whereupon reclosure ci' the cover will automatically silence the signals and restore the system to its original condition, in readiness for sending in another alarm. The above and other advantageous features of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation, of an alarm sending device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view along the line 2--2 of Figl.

Fig. 3 shows the device of Fig. 1, after it has been actuated to send an alarm.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing the position of some of the parts after the device has been actuated.

Fig. 5 shows the device with its cover opened, after being unlocked.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view, showing the connection of the device in an electrical alarm system, and aiso illustrating its association with a nanually operated signal.

Fig. '7 shows a modication of the circuit of Fig. 6.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the device is illustrated in the form of a box, comprising a body i, with a cover 2 hinged at 3, and a chamber in which is mounted a block of insulatmaterial. A pair of contact E mounted on the insulating block and in the normal, non-operating condition of the device, the contacts re separated and no current fiows therebetween. The space between the contacts 6 is adapted to be bridged by a conducting member l' mounted on a plunger 'd extending through the block 5 in the direction of the cover '2. h plunger i is surrounded by a spring 9 located between the block 5,and a shoulder to', so that the spring S tends to urge the plunger 3 to the left to engage the bridging contact member l with stationary contacts With the cover 'i of the box closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the end of the plunger 8 bears against a plate ill mounted on the inside ci the cover 2. he thickness of the plate iii being such that the plunger il is maintained in the position shown, with the spring 9 compressed and the bridging member i out of engagement with the contacts 6.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the plate d is mounted on pins ii carried by the cover 2, with each piu il received in a slot ilo, so that the plate it can be moved longitudinallyY of the cover A spring l2 urges the plate if! upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 2, so as to maintain the lower ends of the slots Ha in engagement with the pins ii. In this position, 'the end of the plunger is in engagement with the central portion of the plate id, substantially opposite to an oper ing lug i3, which extends forwardly through a slot it in the cover 2. The lug i3 provides means accessible :from the front oi the box, whereby the plate iii can be pulled downwardly against the pressure ci" the spring l to the position oi Fig. 4, whereupon the compressed spring Si, surrounding the plunger projects the end of the plunger i! into a slet provided in the plate lil. With the plate in this position, the slot $5 registers with the upper end of the slot M in the cover 2, so that the plunger 8 can move far enough to permit the spring 9 to rrnly engage the bridging member l with the contacts 5. As long as the end of the plunger 8 remains in the slots i4 open, the shield I9 covers the caption unset,

and I5, it is impossible to move the lug I3 and its associated plate Ill upwardly,

In Fig. 6, there is shown diagrammatically, a simple circuit, in which bridging of the contacts E by the member l is adapted to cause energization of signals I6 from a suitable source S of electrical energy. As long as the contacts 6 remain open, the signals I6 are disconnected from the source S, and it is evident that upon actuation of a station by moving the lug I3 downwardly, the contacts 6 will bebridged and the signals I6 will be operated continuously. When once a station has been actuated by moving the lug I3, it is impossible to disconnect the signals IE by moving the lug upwardly, since the end of the plunger in the lot I5 prevents movement of the plate Il).

When it is desired to silence the signals, a person in authority, provided with a suitable key, operates a lock l'i, consisting of a rotatable plate I8 on cover 2 cooperating with lugs I8a on body I. Upon turning the plate I8 to disengage the lugs I8a, the unlocked cover 2 can then be swung forwardly toward the position of Fig. 5, whereupon the plate I0 is disengaged from the plunger 8 and the spring I2 is free to restore the plate I0 to its original position. Therefore, when the cover 2 is swung backwardly, preparatory to again securing it in position by the lock I1, the plate I engages the projecting end of the plunger 8 to again move it to the position of Fig. 2. Therefore, the act of closing and locking the cover 2 automatically results in breaking the circuit between the contacts 6, and in silencing the signals IIS.

In order to indicate the condition of a station, the cover 2 provides suitable captions, such as set and unset, cooperating with a shield I9 carried by the lug I3. When the station is in readiness for operation, with the contacts 6 while the caption set is exposed.l When the lug I3 is moved downwardly tov actuate the station, the shield I9 uncovers the caption unset, as shown in Fig. 3, indicating that the station is not in an operative condition, the caption set then being covered.

Although, as shown in Fig. 6, the actuation of a station to bridge the contacts 6 causes the signals IE to be energized, the circuit can be readily varied, as shown in Fig. 7, to provide for maintenance of a circuit between contacts 6a, by bridging member 1, in the normal non-operating condition of a station. This may be desirable for the purpose of supervising the contacts 6a and member l, and as long as the contacts 6a remain bridged, the winding 2D of a relay, in circuit with contacts 5a, remains energized. Therefore, when actuation of a station opens the contacts 6a, closure of the contacts 2l of the relay serve to connect the signals I6 to the source S.

The actuation of a station by moving its lug I3, renders the station readily adaptable for use, in conjunction with a manually operated alarm signal. In some buildings, such as schools, it is required that a manually operated alarm be provided, and in Fig. 6, a gong 22 is shown as being operable by a rod 23 extending between several oors of the building. In order to insure that operation of the rod 23 will also cause operation of the electrically controlled signals I6, a chain 24 is connected to the lug I3 of a station at one floor. Therefore, downward movement of the rod 23 from any floor will not only sound the gong 22, but will also actuate a station to cause operation of the electrically controlled signals I6.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by the present invention, there is provided an improved alarm sending device for incorporation in the stations of a continuously operating, Vnon-code electrical re alarm system. Such a device, when once actuated, insures the continuous operation of the alarm signals, until a person in authority can open the box of the actuated station with a key, whereupon the signals will be silenced upon closing the box cover. AIn this important respect, a station provided with a sending device of the present invention, is superior to the usual break-glass station.

I claim:

l. An electrical alarm sending device comprising a box containing relatively movable contacts, an operating member for said contacts, a cover for said box carrying a shiftable member adapted, when the cover is closed, to maintain said contact operating member in-a given position and an element movable from the outside of said cover to shift said member and cause said contact operating member to alter the relation between said contacts, with said element being locked against return movement by said contact operating member.

2. An electrical alarm sending device comprisng a box containing relatively movable contacts, an operating member for said contacts, a'

cover for said box carrying a shiftable plate adapted, when the cover is closed, to maintain said contact operating member in a given position and an element movable from the outside of said cover to shift said plate and cause said contact operating member to alter the relation between said contacts, with said plate being locked against return movement by said contact operating member, as long as said box cover remains closed.

3. An electrical alarm sending device comprising a box containing a pair of relatively movable contacts, an actuating member for said contacts mounted'on a spring-pressed plunger, a cover for said box carrying a movable element on the outside, and a plate on the inside connected directly to said element and engageable with the end of said plunger when said cover is closed, movement of said plate by said element permitting said plunger to shift the actuating member with reference to said contacts.

4. An electrical alarm sending device comprising a box containing a pair of spaced contacts, a bridging member for said contacts mounted on a spring-pressed plunger, a cover for said box carrying a movable element on the outside and a plate connected to said element on the inside of said cover and providing an opening, movement of said element permitting said plunger to pass through the opening in said plate to engage said bridging member with the contacts.

5. An electrical alarm sending device comprising a box containing a pair of spaced contacts, a bridging member for said contacts mounted on a spring-pressed plunger, a cover for said box carrying a movable element on the outside and a plate connected to said element on the inside of said cover and providingvan opening, movement of said element permitting said plunger to pass through the opening in said plate to engage said bridging member with the contacts, with said plunger maintaining said plate in its shifted position while the cover remains closed.

6. An electrical alarm sending device comprising a box containing relatively movable contacts, a movable operating member for said contacts, a cover for said box carrying a movable element on the outside and a plate on the inside of said cover connected directly to said element through said cover, said plate being normally adapted, when the cover is closed, to maintain said contact-operating member in a given position, with movement of said plate by said element causing said operating member to assume a different position with reference to said contacts, in which position said plate and cover prevent said contact-operating member from returning to its initial position, while said cover remains closed.

'7. An electrical alarm sending device comprising a box containing relatively movable contacts,

to said element through an opening in said 5 cover, with movement of said plate by said element permitting said plunger to shift the contact-operating member into a position in which the end of said plunger is received in said cover opening to prevent movement of said eIement 10 While said cover remains closed.

TELLEF A. TERJESEN. 

